by MATTHEW HAYS

Some have argued political messages and movies just don't mix, but I would disagree. I look back on films like The China Syndrome with a real longing for intelligent cinema that also packed a clear ideological slant.

Thus it's truly disappointing to see John Sayles' latest, Silver City. Sayles has long been considered one of America's great enduring independent filmmakers, producing a large body of work with great integrity. Sayles' films are a stinging critique of American society, clearly from a leftist perspective. He has also been a great storyteller. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Sadly, with Silver City, they are. The film is a convoluted ensemble piece, a film that revolves loosely around the campaign of a dimwitted politician running for governor of Colorado. This politician is played by Chris Cooper, a fine actor who is reduced here to a shallow impersonation of George W. Bush. The film then devolves into a barely veiled tirade against all things Bush and Republican, with Sayles suggesting that this political dynasty (clearly based on the Bushes) is soaked in secrecy, lies and hypocrisy.

This would be fine, except there is so little to fire up our intrigue about this movie. Each scene feels like a different character is channelling Sayles himself, who is explaining the world to us. Daryl Hannah offers up what is arguably the most funny turn, as an embittered sister to the politician with secrets of her own.

Certainly, the anger behind this film is entirely justified, with much of the American artistic community full of hatred and bile for their current president. But during the Thatcher years, when Britain's artistic community declared war on the Conservative PM, a series of incredibly complex films were made, among them My Beautiful Laundrette and Sammy and Rosie Get Laid. Perhaps it's inescapable, when skewering such a one-dimensional and shallow a man as Bush, that we end up with fairly one-dimensional and shallow films like Silver City and - dare I say it? - Fahrenheit 9/11. Brace yourself: if the current polls are correct, we may have another four years to endure leadership this dreadful and reactionary films this lacklustre.

Silver City opens Friday, Sept. 24

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